Chelsea Transfers

[milka 3,393]

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,380]

Ummmmm, if it isn't an obligation to buy than this will never come to fruition. 

We will turn that down immediately. 

[Fernando 6,585]

Option to buy? They will never buy him, it will be like all the Italians did with Bakayoko. 

Dumb move me thinks from us. 

Edited June 17, 2022 by Fernando

[DDA 9,937]

Just straight swap the cunt for Skriniar

[Superblue 6,372]

11 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

*Despite what I said above I think you are actually right about the academy being something in our favour.

The impact of an academy comes down to perception. You'll remember that Cobham was heavily criticised for years because it was not seen to be producing any first team ready players. This was a stupid and ill informed opinion. As I argued in those days it was far too early to judge Cobham since it was new, needed a few years to settle down, to get the right people in the right places and to form the right partnerships with local institutions. Most of all it takes time to turn eight-year olds into twenty-year olds with no shortcuts available.

For a time there was no shortage of know-nothing ex-footballers telling people; "I wouldn't send my son to Chelsea." The foolish perception that our academy was bad impacted our recruitment. Many of the better youngsters, those with a choice of more than one offer, were choosing to go elsewhere. The upshot of this undeserved reputation is in the fact I mentioned above. Our current crop is not good because, with a few exceptions of course, we didn't attract the best of their age group. There is every chance however that the lads we are recruiting now, when Cobham's reputation is very high, will be good. It will take many years until we know however.

Completely agree with this assessment but I think we should also try to exploit the current reputation of the academy not just with kids coming into the very junior ranks but there seem to be more and more players now moving clubs between the 16 - 18 age bracket. I know we recently signed the player from Charlton and we look to be signing a highly rated keeper from Southampton too. It's definitely an area to see if we can cherry pick a few talents from.

Like you said on current assessment the current crop of academy talent coming through probably won't be up to Chelsea standard but let's see. Some develop later and I think to get one or two players in from the academy to perform squad roles is almost as big a success as a first choice player coming through as it still fills needs and potentially saves the club a lot of money. I think few felt Chalobah would be capable of stepping into the role he did last season and whilst the debate is still there whether he can develop further into a first team regular, he's definitely a solid and reliable squad option. It'll be interesting to see how Tuchel views a number of players coming back for pre season like Colwill, Gallagher, Ampadu, Broja, Sterling, Gilmour, etc. Some of these may well fulfil roles in Tuchel's eyes just like Chalobah did last summer. With the World Cup mid season and the introduction of 5 subs, we may find a club such as ours may feel more confident with retaining a couple of extra players next season as more options for playing time may be readily available and squad rotation more prevalent. It may open some doors of opportunity for some players.

[Superblue 6,372]

The 2024 contract expiry's have to be a priority this summer on top of other obvious pressing needs.

I believe there are 5 first team players in this bracket - Kovacic, Mount, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic.

I wouldn't be against all of them being extended purely on the basis to protect their market values and all are established currently in the first team squad at a time when there could be significant upheaval. Kovacic and Mount in my opinion are absolute musts to be tied down to long term deals and these need absolutely doing this summer. Pulisic needs extending too otherwise we have to look at potentially moving him on this summer to maximise his value if he's unwilling to extend.

Hudson-Odoi I would try to extend and Loftus-Cheek seems to be well liked by Tuchel. The problem with these two is that they are both on massive wages comparative to their squad roles, Loftus-Cheek in particular I think would need to take a pay cut to extend. But the way the market is heading 2 years left is heading the way of 12 months left and players seem to be planning much more ahead now to that scenario of taking controls of their careers. We have to plan accordingly.

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,380]

RLC and CHO need to cut their wage by half if they want to even contemplate about extending. 

 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,380]

Next Week FC. 

 

[Pizy 18,894]

Getting Skriniar is probably the best we can hope for if any player comes the other way. A CB that’s able to walk straight into the team and perform at a high level. Bastoni is more of a gamble.

Bit sad that any and all talk of Gvardiol totally dried up. Koundé + Gvardiol would be great. I guess Koundé + Skriniar on either side of Thiago would be nice, too. 

[OhForAGreavsie 6,072]

21 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I think to get one or two players in from the academy to perform squad roles is almost as big a success as a first choice player coming through as it still fills needs and potentially saves the club a lot of money.

👏

[Superblue 6,372]

9 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

RLC and CHO need to cut their wage by half if they want to even contemplate about extending. 

I would agree it's going to be extremely difficult for them to get similar deals. They signed up previously based on potential breakout periods and in CHO's case the general worry of losing him but neither has developed and kicked on to justify. I think time is still on Hudson-Odoi's side and there was a period last season where he was playing regularly and looking a lot more effective but he still must produce a lot more. 

The problem with dropping their pay is they are very unlikely to do this with still 2 years to run on a current deal. I would be happier with them being signed up to lower base salary but higher performance bonuses to still dangle the carrot to earn what they have been or perhaps even more than they have in the future but it is a tough situation with how the club decides to deal with them.

[Superblue 6,372]

13 minutes ago, Blues Forever said:

 

You have to believe the bit about Boehly discussing with Tuchel whether the relationship is repairable has to be the bit the media got wind of and there were suggestions of Boehly not being on board with Tuchel to let him leave. Of course there will be discussions like this. Boehly isn't a football expert and will currently look at Lukaku as a £100m signing just 12 months ago, he'll want to know what has gone wrong with this transfer and if anything can be fixed before taking what will likely equate to a big hit on the deal. That does not however mean he's going against Tuchel.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,072]

 

14 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Bit sad that any and all talk of Gvardiol totally dried up.

Definitely sad but I read somewhere that Leipzig put a €100m price on his head. That would serve as a very good mop for sure.